If there is one thing to be learned from what I endured at the hands of former Portage Mayor James Snyder, it's not just how evil and corrupt he is - but also his willingness (perhaps eagerness) to go along with the corruption of others.
Although there has never been any justice for what James Snyder and other officials subjected me to, I hope and pray that I can finally add to this tragedy the ability to be able to say in its retelling, "And one of the son of a bitches who had a hand in this is sitting in federal prison..."
"Social science studies demonstrate that prison is not only not rehabilitative, but it damages a person and his family socially, emotionally, psychologically, financially in a variety of ways."
The argument is made in a 50-page supplemental sentencing memorandum filed Monday that includes photos of his wife, four children and dog. (Former Portage mayor makes 11th hour plea to avoid federal prison. NWI Times. October 05, 2021)
Former Portage Mayor James Snyder was probably the best mayor the city ever had and considered himself the city's pastor, local Realtor James Thompson writes in a letter calling on a federal judge to have mercy when sentencing his "dear friend" on bribery and tax violation charges...Thompson describes in his letter going through a difficult financial period in 2008 and Snyder opening his personal checkbook and loaning him money..."I hope this court finds an ounce of mercy and kindness," Thompson wrote. "The same mercy and kindness that James Snyder extended to so many." (Mercy sought for former Portage Mayor as feds name new prosecutor for sentencing. NWI Times. October 01, 2021.)
Realtor James Thompson - The Re-Max realtor my ex-husband hired for the sale of our marital home during our divorce (2010). Thompson is a long-time friend of James Snyder.
Cliff Notes Version: My ex was hiding the marital assets, which were estimated to be about $1,000,000. Ex was court ordered to buy out my interest in the marital home (about $100,000). My attorney, financial advisor and I were waiting for my ex to file refinancing paperwork on the home, at which time marital assets and their location would be disclosed so I could obtain my 60% (about $600,000).
At this same time, I was the whistleblower who had exposed Porter County divorce court Magistrate Johnson's failure to adhere to divorce court rules/laws; failure to issue divorce property settlements in a timely fashion; AND failure to uphold domestic violence protection orders and arrest warrants. Johnson was temporarily removed from the bench while he was being investigated. On October 7, 2010 it was to be determined if Magistrate Johnson would be allowed to return to the bench or be terminated...
September 2010 - Re-Max realtor James Thompson worked with my ex to get the marital home refinanced. Instead of going through our current mortgage company, Thompson steered my ex to his friend James Snyder - more than two months after Snyder's mortgage company was dissolved (during a federal investigation in which Snyder was criminally convicted in 2017).
My attorney, financial advisor, and I never received the mortgage refinance paperwork from James Snyder - despite Re-Max's/BruceAnn Singleton's claims that that Snyder had assisted my ex in filing mortgage re-finance paperwork.
In other words: James Snyder had a hand in hiding the marital assets and denying me 60% of those assets - which were estimated to be about $1,000,000. I will NEVER recoup that financial loss. NEVER.
October 07, 2010 - Date in which Porter County judges would determine whether Magistrate Johnson would be returned to the bench or terminated. Although Johnson had not complied with the conditions set forth by the Indiana Judiciary Board, Johnson was placed back on the bench despite still having a massive backload of divorce property settlement cases.
On this same date, the Portage police department unlawfully entered my home with my ex-husband (who had a criminal conviction for domestic violence and a criminal protection order against him) and removed me from the marital home - despite my ex not complying with the conditions of the property settlement order.
The Portage PD gave my companion dog Bailey Su and rescue dog Abbi Mae to my ex - despite his previous recorded abuse of both dogs.
October 2010 - May 2011 - Friends, a local animal rescue group and I searched relentlessly for my furbabies Abbi and Bailey. In May 2011, I received the horrific news that my ex had taken my furbabies to the Hobart Indiana Humane Society and had them euthanized.
My ex was not criminal charged in the deaths of Abbi and Bailey. There has never been nor will there ever be, justice for the horrific deaths of Abbi Mae and Bailey Su at the hands of my ex-husband/ James Clarence Thomas.
2011 - 2012 - For an entire year, I fought for answers and justice in the deaths of Abbi and Bailey. I contacted city, county, state and federal officials and agencies.
This was Portage Mayor James Snyder's response to city officials when he discovered I was demanding answers for the unlawful police entry and the resulting deaths of my furbabies.
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Mercy sought for former Portage mayor as feds name new prosecutor for sentencing
NWI Times
October 01, 2021
HAMMOND — Former Portage Mayor James Snyder was probably the best mayor the city ever had and considered himself the city's pastor, local Realtor James Thompson writes in a letter calling on a federal judge to have mercy when sentencing his "dear friend" on bribery and tax violation charges next month.
The letter supporting Snyder came as prosecutors brought in special attorney Amarjeet S. Bhachu from Chicago to help the government prepare for sentencing.
Thompson describes in his letter going through a difficult financial period in 2008 and Snyder opening his personal checkbook and loaning him money, "No questions asked."
Thompson also said upon learning that his son had become involved in drugs at school, he turned to Snyder, who referred him to the then-police chief, who sent a drug dog to inspect the child's bedroom, the letter says. After finding no drugs there, police confronted the boy at the high school.
"I think it scared my son like nothing else would," Thompson wrote. "Without them (Snyder and police) it could have gone a completely different way that would not be pretty."
Thompson said Snyder was "always offering and encouraging his leadership team to extend second chances when a resident or a city employee messed up."
"I hope this court finds an ounce of mercy and kindness," Thompson wrote. "The same mercy and kindness that James Snyder extended to so many."
Snyder is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 13.
A federal jury found Snyder, a Republican, guilty March 19 of corruptly soliciting and receiving a $13,000 bribe as mayor eight years ago from a Portage truck dealership for steering city business to the firm.
It was the second time a jury found Snyder guilty of the offense in two years.
Snyder has asked the judge to spare him from prison when he is sentenced.
"A sentence of imprisonment is unnecessary to further the objectives of either general or specific deterrence," the defense wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
"Any reasonable person in the region viewing this case would understand the costs imposed on Mr. Snyder and his family, quite apart from any prison term," the defense wrote. "No observer of this case could take away any message other than that similar conduct risks devastating, fundamentally life-changing results."
Prosecutors are seeking a lengthy prison sentence for Snyder, saying it should fall within the federal sentencing guidelines of between 46 to 57 months.
The defense has attempted to downplay Snyder's tax violation conviction by saying his mortgage loan origination business fell victim to the economic recession of 2008.
Former Portage mayor makes 11th hour plea to avoid federal prison
NWI Times
Oct 5, 2021
HAMMOND — Former Portage Mayor James Snyder has again asked a federal judge to spare him from prison when he is sentenced next week on bribery and tax violation charges.
In seeking probation, Snyder's legal team argues, in part, the offenses are "at the lowest end of the public corruption scale when compared to others that have taken place within the past ten years in the Northern Districts of Indiana and neighboring Illinois."
Snyder, 43, a Republican, was twice found guilty of soliciting and accepting a $13,000 bribe in 2014 in return for steering a $1.125 million garbage collection contract for the city of Portage to the local Great Lakes Peterbilt company.
Federal prosecutors say he also obstructed the Internal Revenue Service’s efforts to collect unpaid taxes on a private mortgage company he ran.
Those same prosecutors are seeking imprisonment for Snyder, arguing that justice demands it to deter other elected officials from public corruption.
But Snyder's new legal team, which was brought onboard a couple months ago to handle sentencing, argues, "Social science studies demonstrate that prison is not only not rehabilitative, but it damages a person and his family socially, emotionally, psychologically, financially in a variety of ways."
The argument is made in a 50-page supplemental sentencing memorandum filed Monday that includes photos of his wife, four children and dog.
"To understand my father you have to understand his heart, and the reason he was so busy," according to a testimonial from his daughter Reagan.
"My dad cares about people," she wrote. "I know it’s hard to believe, but that is truly what makes him different from every other guy on the street, he puts the needs of someone else above his own."
The defense spells out contributions Snyder has made to the community both before and during his term as mayor.
"Most of these accomplishments were achieved during the highly publicized FBI investigation of Snyder and members of his staff," his team says of contributions as mayor. "Mayor Snyder remained undistracted and laser-focused on what the public elected him to do."
Snyder said he cooperated in that investigation and made an unsuccessful attempt to have federal officials look into allegations of misuse of city funds by then-Portage Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, a Democrat.
Stidham was convicted in county court on a felony count of conflict of interest and his wife pleaded guilty in June for her role in the offense.
"Had the prosecution of Stidham been federal instead of state-based, Mr. Snyder would have been eligible for, and in all likelihood rewarded with, a departure in his own case for substantial assistance to the government," his team wrote.
Snyder evoked the concept of a just form of punishment, saying, "the Court may take into consideration the punishment he already has suffered, the collateral consequences of conviction which negatively impact his life in both the short and long term, the financial consequences for him and his family as a result of this prosecution, as well as the emotional and psychological punishment he has endured when considering the appropriate sentence in this case."
An alternative approach is sought, including a potential term of probation, house arrest, community service and the ability for Snyder "to work and repay his financial obligations while continuing to support his family."
Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Hammond federal building before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois, who was brought in to oversee the local case.
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